July 18 - Premier shuffles the deck

Good morning !

BC’s premier has shuffled his cabinet just eight months into his mandate, but that wasn’t the shocking news out of the BC government yesterday. No, that belonged to the health department, which put a huge smile on many faces when it announced it was reinstating funding for Langford’s Charleigh Pollock, the 10-year-old with the terminal genetic disorder Batten disease.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

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Today: 🌤️ 23 / 13

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 21 / 13

Sunday: 🌤️ 24 / 13

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NEWS

Royal Jubilee, 1 of 2 BC hospitals to offer new treatment for late-stage prostate cancer

The BC Cancer Foundation began offering Pluvicto—an innovative and life-extending form of radiotherapy—in June, initially available only at RJH and a clinic in Burnaby. 

It’s not a cure, but it can extend the lives of those fighting complicated late-stage prostate cancers. To the more than 4K people in BC diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, any progress is positive.

“What's important to understand is how common and how big of a problem prostate cancer is,” Dr. Abraham Alexander, a radiation oncologist who specializes in prostate cancer treatment at BC Cancer in Victoria, told Capital Daily. 

“It's the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men. It's also the third-most common cause of cancer death in men as well. So it's a big, really, really big problem.”

Finding and destroying prostate cancer cells

Pluvicto was approved by Health Canada in 2022 to target treatment-resistant prostate cancers when all other options have been exhausted.

“It's actually a really neat treatment,” Alexander said. “It's what we call a radiopharmaceutical.”

Prostate cancer cells have a unique protein—a receptor called PSMA (prostate-specific membrane antigen)—on their surface that makes them identifiable, even when the cancer spreads outside of the prostate.

“This receptor is fairly specific to prostate cancer cells,” Alexander said. “It's not in very many other types of cells, and it's not highly expressed in regular prostate cells.”

Pluvicto targets these receptors, focusing on prostate cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unaffected. The medication binds to the PSMA and delivers radiation therapy directly inside the cell.

Because of its precision, the side effects are less severe than those caused by chemotherapy. 

For now, the therapy is only approved for late-stage prostate cancers, but Alexander says, with time, it could be used to fight earlier stages. It may even provide a blueprint for finding unique receptors in other types of cancer.

Read the full story here.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

James Bay street closure tomorrow: Dallas (Bushby to St. Charles Street) for Northwest Deuce Days. [5:30am-12pm]

Strange tree mischief on Island Hwy. [RCMP]

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Eby shuffles cabinet: Kahlon back, Glumac gets AI, Krieger is new solicitor general

BC Premier David Eby has made some moves that, as the Vancouver Tech Journal points out, are seen as a strategy to strengthen key economic portfolios, including technology and innovation. 

“We need to be responsive to the changing needs of our province by growing our economy, seizing new opportunities, and making our essential services more resilient,” the premier said, later more specifically citing the trade war with the US as the catalyst for the shuffle.

Ravi Kahlon is back to head the Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth, a post he held from 2020 to 2022 when the portfolio was called Jobs and Economic Recovery, following the pandemic. Kahlon replaces Oak Bay-Gordon Head representative Diana Gibson, who now leads citizens' services, supplanting George Chow. 

Victoria-Swan Lake MLA Nina Krieger is in, and Garry Begg is out as solicitor general. Rick Glumac will oversee the new portfolio AI and New Technologies, as BC looks to become a leader in artificial intelligence. 

Christine Boyle takes over from Kahlon at housing. Her position at Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation goes to Spencer Chandra-Herbert.

Anne Kang is the new tourism and sport minister, replacing Chandra-Herbert.

Jessie Sunner takes over from Kang at post-secondary education.

NEWS

Ditching your garbage at the Hartland Landfill is going to cost you more next year

Professionals, take note: as of the new year, it’s going to cost you $5 more per tonne to get rid of your waste materials, tipping in at $160 per tonne.
The fee will rise five bucks a year, so by 2028, that price will be $170.

The fee increases are part of Harltland’s plan to reduce waste, ensure different waste streams are sorted properly, and extend the landfill’s lifespan. The CRD estimates that the additional revenue will add up to $3.85 million over three years.

Fees for clean wood and treated wood or asphalt shingles will remain unchanged at $80 and $110 per tonne, respectively.

Users with heavy loads will be encouraged to ensure they follow regulations when sorting their refuse. The CRD is introducing a $1K fine “for large, improperly sorted loads of waste delivered in walking floor trailers.”

Additionally, the Waste Stream Collector Incentive Program will carry over into next year. Haulers in this program who adopt multi-stream collection systems and share waste data with the CRD can get discounts. The CRD says the plan does cost $2 million+, but it helps encourage responsible waste management.

The Hartland Landfill is located roughly 14km northwest of Victoria and is owned and operated by the CRD. It’s the region’s lone solid waste disposal facility, and serves 440K residents. The landfill also accepts hazardous waste, recycling, salvageable materials, and organics, such as kitchen scraps and garden waste.

Based on its latest projections, the CRD expects the Hartland Landfill to be full by 2100.

This story appeared on Sun. for our Insiders. Become an Insider member and help keep local journalism and storytelling alive in the Capital Region. 

SPONSORED BY THE VICTORIA FOUNDATION

Pulse magazine spotlights social impact in the capital region

Hot off the press!

This year's Pulse magazine showcases the beating heart of the capital region: the remarkable organizations working to make a difference and the generous donors, fundholders, and volunteers who support them.

From a newcomer family who tirelessly operates a mobile food bank to an organization valiantly saving whales from marine pollution, Pulse delves into the hearts and minds behind the missions of critical non-profits and charities.

You can also read the Victoria Foundation's latest financial updates and how the foundation is helping the community address the root causes of today’s challenges. One of the ways is through impact investing—the latest global trend to intentionally direct investments toward social purpose initiatives.

Want to learn more? Read the latest edition of Pulse today and get inspired to make a difference in your community!

⭐️ Capital Picks

🦊 A Canadian marten is seen chilling in a tree in Sooke. [Facebook photo]

📚 Victoria Summer Reading Club for kids aged 14 and under runs until Sept. 6. Sign up anytime at a GV Public Library branch. [GVPL]

🏰 Those in glass [castles]: See throwback photos of the famed Glass Castle, a roadside attraction near Duncan. The “castle” was made from 200k glass bottles and was eventually demolished to make way for a highway expansion. [Watch a 1992 news feature on it.]

🗞️ In Other News

Ex-pilot arrested for hijacking plane at YYJ called himself a ‘messiah’ on a mission
The day before the alleged hijacking, former commercial pilot Shaheer Cassim, 39—who appears to be the man arrested for the incident—posted online that he was a “messenger of Allah” sent to save humanity from climate change. The RCMP says Cassim had an “ideological motive” for seizing the plane from a Victoria Flying Club instructor. His former employers from 15+ years ago say he used to talk about his concerns that the world was coming to an end. [CTV/ CP]

Saanich residents say no to borrowing $150M for operations centre
The Alternative Approval Process (AAP) failed when 12.15% of electors voted “no” to borrowing the money (only 10% was needed to shoot down the AAP). The advocacy group Save Our Saanich (SOS) said its volunteers submitted 8,276 of the 11K “no” votes. An SOS spokesperson said the group is not opposed to the new operations centre, but wants the matter to go to a referendum vote during the 2026 municipal election. Saanich council says the $172M operations centre project is still a priority, with essential services running out of the not-to-code building. [Times Colonist]

Man arrested after police chase in Sidney
Police arrived at a Sidney business at 10am on Wed., where a man reportedly was smoking from a bong while in the driver’s seat of a parked vehicle. When police approached, the driver reversed suddenly, they said, crashing into their police vehicle. Blocked in, his vehicle again collided with the police car, and then sped away, they said. About an hour later, Saanich police found the man’s automobile near Willis Point, and following an attempt to flee a roadblock, he was arrested, Sidney/North Saanich RCMP said.

SPONSORED BY ROCKY POINT BIRD OBSERVATORY

...by learning how to protect them.

Join Rocky Point Bird Observatory and make a difference for birds! Visit the website for guided bird walks and resources on creating bird-friendly spaces. Looking to help further? Volunteer with the observatory and share your skills. Be a part of RPBO and contribute to bird conservation today!

🗓️ Things to do

🍻 Fridays at the Station: This weekly bash features local beers, live music, and a farm-to-table market, at Langford Station today. 4-8pm. [Info]

🖼️ Art Battle: Watch artists compete in painting the perfect masterpiece—the winning painting will be auctioned off—in two rounds at Club KWENCH today. 7pm. [Info]

🇨🇴 Chibcha Festival: Celebrate Colombian culture at this community event, with food, music, and dancing, in Esquimalt Gorge Park Pavilion today. 4-9pm. [Info]

🎨 Moss Street Paint-in: See artists craft masterpieces at this festival, with food, activities, and a family-friendly beer garden tomorrow. 11am-6pm. [Info]

🎶 Acoustic Island 2025 Tour: Bringing five unique acoustic acts from across Vancouver Island to your ears at The Mint tomorrow. 12-4:30pm. [Info]

🧙 Summer Witches Market: Head to this magical market, featuring spell kits, crystals, tarot, and more at Metchosin Community Centre tomorrow. 10am-4pm. [Info]

💗 Blind Dates Live: Watch people navigate the awkwardness of a first date, while comedian Alex Forman attempts to help, at The Mint tomorrow. 8pm. [Info]

🎵 Pacific Opera’s Youth Summer Performance Program presents a fully staged production of Odyssey: a 50-minute opera by Ben Moore. Pacific Opera Victoria & Baumann Centre. Through Sun. Sold Out. Added show: Sun. 7pm. [Info] 

👀 In Case You Missed It

Thursday’s headlines: Man arrested after small plane hijacked at YYJ; CRD to look into funding three GV theatres; Campfire ban in effect on the Island. [July 17]

First new Victoria hotel in 20 years breaks ground. [Times Colonist] 

Near miss on Malahat spotlights tow truck industry’s emergency light demand. [CHEK]

New exhibit at the Victoria Chinatown Museum highlights the dark history of the Chinese Exclusion Act. [VCM]

Habitat Victoria’s Gingerbread Showcase baker registration.

Leafcutter bee hangs out on an echinacea flower. [Plumbker Rapidius / Facebook photo]

That’s it!

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